Rwandan Defense Minister Juvenal Marizamunda officially launched the inaugural cohort of the Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS) at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, Eastern Province.
The institution merges military science with advanced clinical practice to prepare medical personnel for routine care and high-stress combat deployments.
The college aims to strengthen niche medical expertise, clinical research, and leadership development within the Rwanda Defence Force.
Addressing the first class of students, Marizamunda urged the pioneers to prepare for the unique demands of military healthcare, noting the college marks a key investment in the long-term operational readiness and medical self-reliance of the East African nation’s armed forces.
“The Defence College of Health Sciences is designed to bridge the gap between military science and clinical excellence,” Marizamunda stated.
“It will serve as the premier centre of gravity for specialised military medical education, tailoring clinical competencies to both peacetime care and austere combat environment,” he added.
Driving ‘New Paradigm’
Meanwhile, DCHS Principal Yeshigeta Gelaw outlined a broader vision to scale the academy into a leading center for health sciences across the continent.
“We are actually launching a new paradigm for Rwanda: excellence in education, service, research and innovation,” Gelaw said.
“We step into the future with a very big, bold and unapologetic ambition to establish this institution as one of the premier College of Health Sciences in Africa.”